I've got the option to buy a Norinco from a dude at work for $260.  It's in good shape but the handgard was replaced and it's missing the original magazine.  I`ve always thought all the aftermarket ones were pretty unreliable.  It looks like Tapco gets good reviews now though.  I could wait for a factory mag. to show up on Gunbroker.

Have you guys had any luck with the newer aftermarket magazines?  I`d like to have a %100 reliable SKS.

Thanks

BuyMilSurplus has original 10rd mags for $40, but they pop up from time to time on other sites for cheaper.

The Tapco 20rd mags are decent if you can stand duckbills or are interested in the converted "duckbill less" setups out there.

Aim has complete military Chinese SKS's for $310.

Here's a factory mag. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_7_123/1404025_SKS_Parts_Original_10rd_fixed_mag__Complete_trigger_group__and_top_cover.html

Go with the factory mag.  The ad in the link above is a good price.  You can get  them on Ebay as well for $40-50.

I messed around  with aftermarket mags and got them to work fairly well, but other than range fun, I would never depend on them.  Get a good factory mag and you'll never worry about it.

The next step is to get good stripper clips.  The NcStar ones are absolute crap, most won't fit due to poor machining, and the ones the will either retain the rounds and feed poorly, or feed well and have bullets fall out in storage -- never both.  Get some surplus ammo clips, either Yugo, Chinese, or Czech.  The easiest and best ones to get recently are those marked "BXN".  Search Ebay.   Expect to pay between $1.00 - 1.50 per clip, shipped.  It's very much worth the money.  Here are a couple of good vendors that I've bought from:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271754398314

http://www.ebay.com/itm/40-SKS-Sks-10rd-Stripper-Clips-Czech-BXNs-Excellent-/221697051819?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item339e2c8cab

Just make sure that they're Czech-made, not just "made for VZ58, SKS".  

The difference between good surplus clips and the garbage NcStar makes is night and day.

As others have said, a factory surplus mag is better than the TAPCO option, especially if you want to keep the rifle stock for the most part.  $260 is a pretty good price for a Norinco in good shooting shape, especially in person when you don't have to pay shipping or any FFL transfer fees.  If I were you I'd get a surplus mag off ebay or the website listed above and take the Norinco.

this

I ordered one from buy milsurp that was advertised as having almost no bluing. I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the package that it looked almost brand new and fit with no issues or tweaking.